To be fair, Eggshell Egoz don’t sound as much like the Red Hot Chili Peppers as they could’ve. Yes, the influence is definitely there – quite blatant, actually. But Eggshell Egoz do try to make their own flip on the fusion of rap, rock, and funk. In fact, they probably exert more energy on Funky Poetz than the Peppers did on their last couple of albums.

While the Peppers are entering their middle age and slowing nearly everything down to recapture the Top-40 magic of “Under the Bridge,” Eggshell Egoz are jumping out of the cage. The title track and “Slippery Slime” percolate with some über pulsating bass lines and face-slapping percussion. It is fun stuff, the kind of partying music you want blowing out of your speakers on a summer afternoon. “Riverbend” is driven by crunch-rock riffs and semi-rapped vocals that simply crush the bad memory of Sugar Ray. When Eggshell Egoz want to chill, such as on “Taking My Time” and “Manic Peaches,” they recall the best of Sublime without the haze of smoke.